Hope, Help & Harmony for Haiti

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On January 12, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, just 15 kilometres southwest of its capital, Port-au-Prince. More than 250,000 people were killed and one million left homeless.

The Orangeville Chorus was pleased to participate in organizing and performing in a highly-successful fundraising concert for the children suffering the devastating effects of this earthquake. All proceeds from the concert - $12,714.37 - were donated to UNICEF.

Photo credit: cbc.ca

Representatives from participating groups can be seen here presenting a cheque for $12,714.37 to UNICEF (back to front, left to right): Mark Dubois, Mayor Rob Adams, Bob Johns - O.C. Sound, Joy Bell - T.O.Y.S., David Nairn - Theatre Orangeville, Jenee Gowan - Citrus Studio, Pat Vipond - Orangeville Chorus, Joan Borden - T.O.Y.S. & Orangeville Chorus, Anne Reid - Theatre Orangeville Academy, Pamela Scott, Anne Richardson - organizing committee, and Linsay Elliott - UNICEF.

Working for a brighter future for Haiti's children

“Surrounded by rubble, people are standing up – women, mothers, fathers, children – and UNICEF’s role will be to help Haitians stand up together, to turn their hopes into reality, and to ensure that children grow up with access to the full range of services they need to survive and thrive, reaching their full potential to contribute meaningfully to the development of their nation.”

Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans
Representative
UNICEF Haiti

It has been six months since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010. Over 1.6 million people – almost the population of Montreal – are displaced and living in temporary settlements. An estimated half of these are children.

Since February, I have been on the ground in Haiti and currently oversee all humanitarian operations for the UN. I have seen the devastation first hand. Children separated from their families – at risk for disease and malnutrition, and new mothers struggling to provide for their babies. But I have also witnessed the resilience and pride of the Haitian people and the hope they have for their future.

The earthquake in Haiti compounded the very difficult humanitarian conditions that already existed. Before the earthquake, the odds for Haiti’s children were already against them: one out of every 13 infants died before the age of five and over 30 per cent of children under five were chronically undernourished.

Thanks to partners like you, UNICEF has been able to provide life-saving support to so many. Through our leadership in nutrition, education, child protection and water sanitation and hygiene, UNICEF has been instrumental in:

185,000 children reached with basic education materials;
More than 275,000 children being immunized against preventable diseases;
225 UNICEF supported child-friendly spaces benefitting 62,800 children;
550,000 children under five and pregnant and lactating women benefitting from ready-to-eat supplementary food keeping malnutrition levels from dropping; and
Providing 330,000 people at least five litres of clean water daily, which represents 25 per cent of the overall water delivery effort.

You should be proud of your fundraising efforts as you have helped UNICEF provide essential support to thousands of children and their families when they have needed it most.

As the world’s leading child-focused humanitarian and development agency, UNICEF works tirelessly to help children survive and thrive. Our work in Haiti is far from over and we will continue to work in partnership with Haiti, for as long as it takes, to build a brighter future for all of Haiti’s children.

I was asked recently by a UNICEF supporter what keeps me going. My answer is simple. Children restore my faith in the human race. They can bounce back from even the worst experiences and it’s wonderful to lead a UNICEF team that can help make that happen.

I am an eternal optimist – there is no choice. I tell myself that together we can make a difference…and we do!

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Nigel Fisher

UNICEF Canada President and CEO
Humanitarian Coordinator, UN Resident Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Haiti

UNICEF CANADA 2200 Yonge St. Suite 1100 Toronto, Ontario M4S 2C6 Telephone: 1 800 567-4483

Members only

Hope, Help & Harmony for Haiti